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Aviation History
1912
1912 - 0367.PDF
APRIL 27, 1912. Rene Caudron lying his biplane " hands off." to make things any too easy for the pilot. His time for the course, a complete circuit, four figures of eight and a finishing off circuit, was 14 mins. 2 sees. Meanwhile, Valentine had started off on his Bristol monoplane, and was circling overhead at about 1,000 feet. Ewen was off next in the figure of eight contest, on his Caudron biplane. Considering it was the third time he had flown this machine, he put up a most excellent little flight, banking well on his turns, especially on his right-handed ones, which seemed to come to him much easier than those taken in the opposite direction. Although he flew a much cleaner course than did Turner, his time worked out at 14 mins. 36^ sees., for he lost time equivalent to one lap in correcting an error he had made in following the course. Hamel's time was II mins. I2§ sees., for his machine, a Bleriot, was much faster than the biplanes, and he saved much time at the pylones by quick turning and high banking. The cross-country event, twice over the course from the aerodrome to Harrow spire and back, commenced at five o'clock. Five machines were lined up at the start. Away first was Lewis Turner on the Farman, doing a half circuit and going across country at a height of 250 feet. His engine was misfiring badly. Six minutes and 45 seconds behind him started Ewen on the Caudron, being given only 2 mins. 30 sees, by Hucks on the Gnome-Bleriot. Valentine on the Bristol monoplane started two minutes later, with Hamel just under a minute behind him. Some four minutes after Hamel had started, Turner returned to the aerodrome about 500 ft. up, and the spectators were quite surprised when, instead of turning the pylone and making once more for Harrow Hill, he shut off his engine, planed down, and landed. His engine had been giving so much trouble that he deemed it advisable to abandon the race and have it attended to. Hucks, Valentine, and Hamel rounded the home mark shortly afterwards and dissappeared again, flying strongly. Returning for the second time, Hucks was the first to come in sight, flying well at a good thousand feet. He planed down and crossed the line amid cheers. Valentine then appeared. Few people saw the approach of Hamel. He returned to the aero drome just flying above the tops of the hedges between the aerodrome and the Edgware Road. Crossing the imaginary line between pylones No. 1 and 3, he made one circuit and landed, pulling up within about six feet of a crowd of officials gathered round pylone No. I. People began to wonder what had become of Ewen on the Caudron biplane, for he had not yet returned to the aerodrome. Quite a quarter of an hour after the completion of the race he could just be discerned away in the distance beyond Edgware, circling as if to determine his whereabouts. He arrived on the ground sonu ten minutes later, and explained that in passing over Harrow he had lost his goggles, and half blinded by the oil from the engine exhaust, had mistaken his homeward route. His course, however, he picked up at Elstree, recognising the reservoirs there, and followed tht Edgware road back to the aerodrome. Undoubtedly the most exciting event of the day—although all, for the matter of that, were very interesting—was the speed contest; for to see three fast monoplanes dashing round the course, in close pursuil of each other, must have aroused enthusiasm in the most unemotional of minds. Hucks, Valentine and Hamel were the contestants, Hamel being scratch, aud giving 37 sees, to Valentine and 65 sees, to Hucks. Of the starts, Valentine's was by far tht neatest, incidentally bringing out a hitherto unrecognised quality in the Bristol monoplane. He had no mechanics to hold him back : he simply threw his r/tvAf forward, raising the tail, so that his front skids rested heavily enough on the earth to effectively brake the machine. Receiving the signal to start, he merely lowered the tail by a movement of the elevator, and sped on. Both Hucks and Valentine flew fairly high. Hamel's flight showed the greatest dash, for he sped along close to the ground, taking the turning points as if his inner wing were hinged for the time being to the side of the pylone. His engine was not pulling as well as ii might, and despite all his clever handling, he could but reduce the distance that sejmrated him from Valentine. The latter slowly but surely gained on I lucks and, speeding up the straight in finishing the last circuit, drew level and passed him scarcely 300 yards from the finishing line. It was cleverly done on Valentine's ]>art, but it cost him the race, for he was disqualified for passing I lucks on the inside. Hucks crossed the line 5 sees, after Valentine, with Hamel 11 fees, behind. The Altitude Contest was decided quite late in the evening. The two entrants, I lucks and Hamel, both on Bldriot monoplanes, circled up into the gathering haze until iboth were scarcely discernible, Hucks descended first, his barograph showing an altitude of 3,050 fl. Hamel remained tip some fifteen minutes longer. The barograph he carried registered up to 1,200 metres, or roughly 3,060 ft., at which A new method of testing the abilities oE a machine, and incidentally of carrying a passenger. The latter Is seated, as can be seen from the photograph, Inside the cellule on the right'hand side of the body. On the left-hand wing tip may be distinguished a bag, into which a few heavy tools were thrown, which was attached to equalise the weight. This test was made on Friday of last week at Hendon by M. Rene Caudron.
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